Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 2

Written Answers. - Crime Levels.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

145 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he proposes to take to address the increasing public concern arising from the escalating crime levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6215/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

It is not factually correct to state that crime levels have been rising. Since I took office in 1997, the incidence of indictable offences has fallen in that and each subsequent year, as follows:

Year	No. of Indictable Offences
1996	100,785
1997	90,875
1998	85,627
1999	81,274
2000	73,276*

* The figure for 2000 relates to ‘headline offences' rather than ‘indictable offences', reflecting changes in the presentation of data arising from the introduction of the Garda PULSE computer system.

According to the Garda annual report, 2000, page 75, "crime categorised as headline crime . . . reflects to a major degree what, in the past, was defined as indictable crime". On the issue of the public perception of crime levels, I am mindful that the fear of crime can lead certain persons to curtail their activities and alter their routines, thereby casting a long shadow over their quality of life on a daily basis. As a consequence, when establishing the State's first-ever National Crime Council, I made one of its key terms of reference the requirement to address the fear of crime and to raise public awareness of crime and crime issues.

Questions Nos. 146 and 147 answered with Question No. 18.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

148 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied that the statistics relating to crime levels are soundly based and cannot be falsified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6218/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I refer the Deputy to my response to Priority Question No 3. of today's date.